Sirach and Ethics, 6-27-2010

 Let me offer my fellow Protestants another book from the Catholic Old Testament, Sirach.

One cannot justify unjust anger, anger plunges a man to his downfall.

Compare that with this from The Nicomachean Ethics, Book IV, Chapter 5, §3 and §4: 

The person who is angry at the right things and toward the right people, and also in the right way at the right time, and for the right length of time is praised. This, then, will be the mild person, if mildness is praised. For {if mildness is something to be praised,} being a mild person means being undisturbed, not led by feeling, but irritable wherever reason prescribes and for the length of time it prescribes. And he seems to err more in the direction of deficiency, since the mild person is ready to pardon, not eager to exact a penalty.

I wish the ideas behind Sirach 6 33-37 had been knocked into my head: 

If you are willing to listen, you will learn; if you give heed, you will be wise; Frequent the company of elders; Be eager to hear every godly discourse; let no wise saying escape you. If you see a man of prudence seek him out, let your feet wear away his doorstep! Reflect ont eh precepts of the LORD, let his commandments be your constant mediatation; Then he will enlighten your mind, and the wisdom you deisre will be granted.

Notice the use of constant meditation. It is not enough to be taught, it is not enough to know, but success requires thinking about our actions.

Let me be an example of one knowing but not thinking.

sch